Boston Free Speech, the group organizing the event, said on its Facebook page that its rally was scheduled for noon at City Hall Plaza. The rally spilled onto City Hall Plaza in the afternoon, remaining primarily near the John F. Kennedy Federal Building.

A heavy police presence helped separate both sides. There were a few shoving matches quickly broken up by police, but there were no reports of any arrests, serious violence or injuries.

The protest lasted less than an hour. Police shut down the rally when the protesters tried to continue into Boston Common because they didn't have a permit. Authorities were seen escorting the group away.

Organizer John Medlar said the event was meant to call out Internet censorship and "violent suppression of discourse in the public square.''

The counterprotesters gathered at the State House for a planned march to City Hall organized by Stand Against Hate-Boston and the Democratic Socialists of America. They could be heard shouting "cops and Klan go hand-in-hand."